In one of my first meetings as the new Minister for Social and Affordable Accommodation and Lands, I had the pleasure to have a beautiful discussion with the YMCA .

Iwelcomed YMCA CEO Anthony Camilleri and the indefatigable anti-poverty activist, with his distinctive hat, YMCA Chairperson Jean Paul Mifsud at my office in the Ministry.

How we care for the most vulnerable members of our society defines who we are. Few organizations have contributed as consistently and meaningfully as YMCA Malta does for the homeless and the uprooted. This year, it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

YMCA Malta has become one of the country's most respected social service organizations. From 1976 to today, it has been Malta's leading organization for the homeless. Tirelessly, with limited resources, but with the tremendous love and passion of its many volunteers over the years, the YMCA has been supporting people experiencing homelessness, poverty, social exclusion, and personal hardship. It offers wide-ranging professional services that include social support, counselling, youth empowerment programmes, and its wellestablished accommodation services.

At their home drop-off, YMCA provides not just food and shelter but also shower facilities, laundry services, internet access, and psychosocial support.

The meeting I had with YMCA reinforced my admiration for this exceptional organization. We discussed the many challenges

that continue to affect vulnerable people, particularly in relation to social inclusion and housing affordability.

I assured Jean Paul and Anthony of the government's full support for the priceless work that the YMCA carries out every day. Their commitment deserves recognition, encouragement, and unconditional support.

Homelessness has many causes. It is often linked to rising rent, eviction, financial hardships, mental health challenges, substance abuse, unemployment, and family breakdown. The remarkable thing about the YMCA is that not only does it provide temporary shelter, but it also seeks to restore stability in the individual's life.

Labour is the pioneer for social and affordable housing, and in this legislature, we plan to strengthen this sector further. But there are still people whose life circumstances left them without a roof above their heads, and I am the first to acknowledge that even one person suffering from homelessness in our country amounts to social failure- one we all have a role in addressing. I intend to push hard and give my all to ensure better social and affordable housing, and Labour's electoral proposals on housing should go a long way in achieving this. However, this does not exclude the important role of community-based organizations, such as the YMCA.

Robert D. Putnam is one of the most influential American political scientists and researchers on civic engagement and community life. In his seminal work, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, he argued that community-based organizations help create networks of mutual support, trust, and cooperation that are crucial for healthy societies.

This is precisely why YMCA Malta is such a unique and important organization that must be supported and continually nurtured, for it serves as a bridge between individuals going through a tough patch in their lives and the wider community. YMCA provides hope and a pathway to a new beginning.

In the second quarter of last year, 37 people successfully moved on from emergency accommodation to more stable living, up from just 10 in Q1. That's a 270% improvement in outcomes in just three months. The story of YMCA Malta deserves to be celebrated. They have my full support.

Stronger together

This week, Labour Party delegates confirmed Prime Minister Robert Abela as party leader and Ian Borg and Alex Agius Saliba as the deputy leaders. They did so strongly and persuasively. The three of them secured more than 90% of the Labour delegates' vote. This show of force was

never in doubt. Robert Abela secured Labour's fourth historic consecutive win. It was a first for Malta. No political party has done it before, and it was achieved with a landslide.

A new chapter has now begun. A 1000-plus-proposal electoral manifesto awaits. The people expect us to deliver. They have placed their faith in us. We will not let them down. Parliament reopened in the shortest time possible after a general election. The tasks ahead are many. We can not sit on our laurels and bask in the glory of yet another huge electoral victory. It would be wrong to do that, and foolishly myopic. The future awaits.

The remarkable thing about the Labour Party is that despite having been in government for the past 13 years, its internal renewal process never ceased. As a united party, it is best placed to pass important legislation more effectively and keep strengthening Malta's economy.

Speaking in Parliament last week, Prime Minister Robert Abela explained that he asked every cabinet member to identify two deliverables to be completed before the next budget. In a nutshell, we have hit the ground running.

Positive and optimistic

According to the Spring Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament, most Maltese people are satisfied with their quality of life. Around 26,000 people took part in the survey, which took place during the electoral campaign. The survey found that 90% of Maltese people are satisfied with their quality of life.

This is significantly higher than the average across the other European Union member states. Regarding their own future and that of their families, most people in Malta and Gozo are also far more optimistic than the rest of Europe. According to the survey, 85% of respondents from Malta and Gozo expressed optimism about the future. This is 9 percentage points higher than the European average.

Furthermore, the Eurobarometer found that an absolute majority of Maltese people are optimistic about the future of their country, with 73% expressing optimism-an increase of 8 percentage points compared with the previous Eurobarometer survey conducted in the autumn. Compared with the European Union average, the result for Malta is 15 percentage points higher. This is truly encouraging. We shall strive to make it even better.

On the other hand, like most citizens across the European Union, most Maltese people are pessimistic about the future of the world, particularly in the context of the conflict in the Middle East involving the United States and Israel against Iran.